PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joe Stack (ranked 1646 p4p, 1677 weight class) and Bruce Hardman (ranked 129 p4p, 133 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Bruce Hardman enters the cage!

Stack
vs
Hardman

176 cm
20
153
4 - 0 - 0

186 cm
21
152
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

30th Century Beer Store

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Stack!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bruce Hardman!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Valeri Chadov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardman with a jab.
Hardman ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hardman tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
A combination from Stack does no damage.
Stack connects with a body shot that sends Hardman's belly button to the back.
Hardman has his takedown stuffed
and Stack counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Stack throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hardman with the counter takedown but Stack avoids it easily.
Stack has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Cant Lose MMA in the buildup to the fight.
Stack takes one to the side of the head.
Stack lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Stack misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hardman.

Hardman is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Stack's half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hardman stalling.
Stack is looking to control Hardman's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Stack avoid being mounted?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hardman is working for a submission of some sort.
Stack is looking for a sweep. Hardman is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Hardman is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Stack is looking to control Hardman's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Stack avoid being mounted?

Stack is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hardman pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Stack works his way to full guard. Good work.
Stack keeping full guard, as Hardman tries to pass.
Hardman sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Stack's guard.

Hardman is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Stack works his way to full guard. Good work.
Hardman is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Hardman passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Hardman wants to control but Stack is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stack is looking to reverse the position.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hardman looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Hardman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stack keeps working.

Hardman is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Stack has escaped the position, nice work there.

Hardman thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Stack is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Hardman seems to be looking for submissions.

Hardman is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Hardman is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Stack has managed to free his arm - good work.
Stack is trying to maintain the position but Hardman is very close to passing his half guard.

Hardman is looking for a kimura but Stack is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hardman to get the leverage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stack holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Stack is looking to control Hardman's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Stack avoid being mounted?
Stack tries to roll over but Hardman keeps him under control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Hardman dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hardman tries to score a power double leg takedown but Stack sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hardman somewhat.
Stack throws a predictable looking body shot

and Hardman counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Stack has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hardman can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hardman trying to control the position from guard on top but Stack is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stack trying to keep a closed guard but Hardman is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardman trying to control the position from guard on top but Stack is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Stack working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hardman doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hardman manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stack is trying to control the position but Hardman postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stack wants to control but Hardman passes easily into half guard.

Hardman looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Hardman has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Hardman is looking for a kimura but Stack is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hardman to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Stack slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Stack trying to keep a closed guard but Hardman is proving a slippery customer.
Hardman pushes down on Stack's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Hardman seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Stack is looking to control Hardman's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Stack avoid being mounted?

Hardman is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Stack has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hardman is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Hardman jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Stack manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stack is looking for a sweep.
Stack is trying to escape the position but Hardman is controlling the position.
Stack gets back to half guard.

Hardman is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Stack is just riding it out for now. Hardman eventually gives up the hold.
Hardman wants to free his trapped foot but Stack is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Stack looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Stack wants to improve his position but Hardman is controlling well.

Hardman is working for a submission of some sort.
Hardman prevents Stack from improving his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stack slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Bruce Hardman has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hardman stopping the sweep attempt from Stack.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Hardman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Hardman fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Stack on the side of the head.
Stack misses with a combination

and Hardman decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Stack's guard.
Stack keeping moving, preventing Hardman from controlling successfully.
Stack trying to control the position.

Stack has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hardman can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hardman looking to sit in guard and control but Stack gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stack trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardman working a defensive guard here.

Hardman working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Stack doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Stack manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Stack forces his way into half guard.

Stack is trying to work for a kimura but Hardman is defending well.
Hardman slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Stack slips nicely into half guard.
Hardman is not content to let Stack control the position.
Hardman holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Hardman felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Stack is stalling here. Hardman is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Stack seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Hardman has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Hardman is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Stack has escaped the position, nice work there.
Stack is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stack manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Stack gets back to full guard.
Stack trying to keep a closed guard but Hardman is proving a slippery customer.
Hardman is pushing down on Stack's leg trying to pass to half guard. Stack is fighting to maintain full guard but Hardman has managed to sneak the leg through.

Hardman is working for a submission of some sort.

Hardman is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardman is trying to control the action in half guard but Stack is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Hardman looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Stack manages to get to full guard.
Joe Stack has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bruce Hardman is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Stack is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hardman defends well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bruce Hardman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hardman winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruce Hardman!